Box Score
Ohio Wesleyan 29, Oberlin 16
Sophomore running back Jesse Beachy (Plain City/Jonathan Alder) scored on a 4-yard run to put Ohio Wesleyan ahead to stay, and freshman quarterback Jax Harville (Marion/River Valley) connected with junior wide receiver Wyatt Griffith (Cape Coral, Fla./Baker) for an insurance score that helped the Bishops close out a North Coast Athletic Conference win over Oberlin on Saturday in Oberlin.
Ohio Wesleyan marched to a first down at the Oberlin 19-yard line on the opening possession of the game, but a holding penalty helped stall the drive, and senior wide receiver Tim Shadoan (Dublin/Scioto) misfired on a 38-yard field goal attempt.
After the Bishop defense forced a 3-and-out, Shadoan fielded the ensuing punt on the Ohio Wesleyan 39 and returned it 61 yards for a touchdown and a 7-0 Bishop lead.
Oberlin answered later in the first quarter, with Jabari Clemons finding Zach Taylor on a 19-yard scoring play to cap a 75-yard, 12-play drive.
The Yeomen had a chance to take the lead early in the second quarter, driving to a first down at the Ohio Wesleyan 6, but senior linebacker Mason Tomblin (Wooster) and junior cornerback Roy Denson (Fort Myers, Fla./Baker) dropped Oberlin's Melvin Briggs for a 3-yard loss on second down, and on third down, junior safety Brad Brodek (Parma/Valley Forge) sacked Taylor, forcing a fumble that Oberlin recovered on the 10-yard line. The Yeomen lined up for a field goal attempt, but the snap was high and Oberlin covered the ball at the Bishop 20.
Harville found senior wide receiver Ross Hickenbottom (West Liberty/West Liberty-Salem) on a 52-yard scoring play that gave Ohio Wesleyan a 14-7 lead with 5:59 left in the first half, but on the Bishops' next possession, Harville was intercepted by Bennett Jackson, whose 55-yard return brought the Yeomen within 14-13. Junior cornerback Jerry Harper (Vista, Calif./Santa Fe Christian) blocked the extra point try, keeping the Bishops up by a single point.
Oberlin put together another lengthy drive in the third quarter, covering 74 yards in 16 plays before the Bishop defense stopped the drive inside the 10-yard line. Michael Leshchyshyn converted a 23-yard field goal for a 16-14 Oberlin lead.
Griffith returned the ensuing kickoff 56 yards to the Oberlin 39-yard line, and Harville moved the chains with a 10-yard strike to Hickenbottom before Beachy picked up another first down with a 13-yard gallop to the Oberlin 10. Beachy would cover the final 10 yards in 2 plays, going over from 4 yards out to put the Bishops up, 20-16, and when Harville found senior wide receiver Eugene Coleman (Northfield/Nordonia) on a 2-point conversion try, Ohio Wesleyan led, 22-16, with 4:23 left in the third quarter.
The Bishop defense preserved the lead, with senior nose guard Beau Michel (Seffner, Fla./Armwood) stopping Zach Taylor for no gain on a fourth-and-1 call from the Ohio Wesleyan 42.
Ohio Wesleyan added to its lead when Griffith and Oberlin's Jackson both came down with a Harville aerial, with Griffith winning the battle for possession, and as Jackson fell to the ground, breaking away to complete the 54-yard scoring play.
Harville, making his first collegiate start, completed 25 of 42 passes for 296 yards and 2 touchdowns. Beachy ran for a team-high 69 yards on 17 carries. Hickenbottom led Ohio Wesleyan with 7 catches for 98 yards and a score.
Senior defensive end Gary Brodek (Parma/Valley Forge) led the Bishops with 11 tackles, and senior linebacker Keaton Leppla (Millersburg/West Holmes) added 9 stops.
Taylor completed 21 of 40 passes for 147 yards, and ran for a team-high 53 yards on 24 carries. Robby Reinheimer led Oberlin with 8 receptions for 77 yards. Jubreel Hason led the Yeomen with 12 tackles, including a sack.
Box Score
